Anatomy of a Goal: How Manchester City's 4-2-2-2 left them vulnerable against Roma

Manchester City's struggles in Europe continued Tuesday, as the reigning English champions could only muster a dour 1-1 draw against Roma, a result which leaves the club on just one point in Group E in the Champions League group stage.

Aside from an early flurry that saw them go ahead through a Sergio Aguero penalty, and putting on pressure late when pressing for a much-needed winner, City were second-best on the day and Francesco Totti's 23rd-minute equalizer was very much deserved.

That said, it could have easily been avoided.

The goal was a product of Roma's slick one-touch passing as much as it was City's chosen formation on the day, as Manuel Pellegrini's decision to utilize a 4-2-2-2 played a key role in creating the space that allowed the 38-year-old Roma captain to waltz in alone before delicately lobbing the ball beyond Joe Hart.

The players are not without fault, of course, but Pellegrini didn't do them any favors with his system on the day.

First, the goal in full:

(Courtesy: AS Roma)

The problem becomes visible early, when Seydou Keita carries the ball from deep within his own half without a hint of pressure until he gets inside the center circle.

With Pellegrini determined to utilize two strikers – a decision somewhat influenced by the groin injury that has ruled Samir Nasri out for a month – he loses man power just behind them, in the attacking midfield area commonly referred to as "the hole."

With Fernandinho and Yaya Toure sitting deep in central midfield, while David Silva and Jesus Navas occupy wide positions when the team does not have the ball (Silva can roam when in possession), there is nobody playing high and central to close down Keita.

In a perfect world, one of the two strikers would do the job, but being human, they are prone to not being in the right position or being just a step slow when it comes to their defensive duties.

As you can see above, none of Dzeko, Toure, Silva or Fernandinho put enough pressure on the ball carrier, giving him time to advance up the field while also being able to look for a pass comfortably.

In addition, Vincent Kompany is pulled out of position by Totti, vacating his defensive place in order to take away a potential pass into the feet of the veteran and at the same time close down the chasm that exists between the midfield and the defensive lines.

That space is exactly what Radja Nainggolan exploits (photo below), sitting there unabated before receiving a clever pass from Keita that eliminates the woefully positioned Toure and Fernandinho (joined by the red line) instantly.

Silva and Navas (circled), on their respective wings, hold their wide positions as the formation dictates.

With the midfield now completely taken out of the equation by just one pass, the responsibility shifts to the defense, which has already been compromised by Kompany's dash forward to follow Totti – which is an issue too often overlooked when dissecting the defender's game.

It's something the incomparable Michael Cox noted in the immediate aftermath of the goal:

When the Belgian stays in his advanced position to close down the ball played into Nainggolan, he leaves his compatriot with a simple first-time pass to send Totti clean through on goal.

Martin Demichelis should have shifted over to his right to cover the space vacated by Kompany as soon as he saw the captain rush forward seconds earlier to follow Totti. With no other Roma player in the area, there was no reason for him to stay in his left centre-back position covering nothing but blades of grass.

By this point though, it's far too late. Even for a 38-year-old, Totti who would likely lose a race to you and I – OK, maybe just you – there is simply too much space to make up before the Italian gets a clean look on goal, and Demichelis is not the fleetest of foot, giving him no chance.

Credit must be given to Roma for taking advantage of the space afforded to them. Keita's initial pass was very clever and Nainggolan did well not to take a touch and slow down the attack. 

That said, no team, particularly one with the quality and expectations of Manchester City, should ever be opened up like this with only two passes. There were poor positional decisions by the players that allowed the goal to come to fruition, but the biggest decision of all that set the whole thing into motion was Pellegrini's, going with a very open 4-2-2-2.